WASHINGTON
– President
Trump signed into law legislation authored by Senate Judiciary Committee
Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) to help states prevent and respond to crimes
targeting vulnerable children. The
Missing
Children’s Assistance Act of 2018 extends and updates law that
makes resources available to the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children (NCMEC) for the continued fight against child abduction and
exploitation.
“Community leaders at the grass roots of America
are on the front lines in the effort to protect vulnerable youngsters from
abuse and exploitation – crimes that too often go unrecognized, but can have a
divesting impact. Organizations like the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children provide families, caregivers, schools and other community
leaders with critical support needed to prevent and respond to child
exploitation. My legislation, which the President has signed into law, empowers
NCMEC and similar organizations to continue their important work to care for
our children,” Grassley
said.
The
legislation updates terms that are used in the Missing Children’s Assistance
Act to reflect the latest research and trends. It extends funding for five
more years, at the current level of $40 million, for NCMEC and other
organizations that help prevent and respond to offenses committed against
vulnerable children. It also ensures continued federal support of efforts
by state and local entities to recover missing and exploited children—including
children who are the victim of kidnapping and child pornography crimes. And the
bill includes measures to ensure that school personnel, law enforcement,
individuals and other non-governmental organizations can receive technical
assistance and training on how to prevent, recover, and help missing, abducted,
or exploited children.
Grassley
introduced the legislation on August 16. The Judiciary Committee reported it to
the full Senate on September 18. The Senate passed the bill on September 27 and
the House of Representatives passed it the following day.
The
bill is cosponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif), Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Dean Heller (R-Nev.),
Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Full text of the bill can be
found
HERE.
-30-